THE COAST WATCHERS

STATION 12

This station is a tribute to the men of that little known force the Coast Watchers.

This force had its beginning in 1922 when the Royal Australian Navy received approval to recruit a network of unpaid, carefully selected civilians, including merchants, missionaries, planters and public servants who were living or working on or near the coast of the northern mainland of Australia and the islands to our north. The network was established for the purpose of reporting in war time, any unusual or suspicious happenings along the coast. Initially the headquarters were in Rabaul.

When Japan began its move southward in January 1942, the network was enlarged. More people with local knowledge were recruited as well as personnel from the Australian armed forces. Such men were Lieutenants Jack Read and Paul Mason who, from their positions on Bougainville, were able to alert the US forces at Guadalcanal, when Japanese aircraft and ships were heading south to the American positions.

The network spread from mainland Australia to Papua New Guinea, New Britain, New Ireland, the Solomons, New Hebrides and later to Fiji. It was absorbed into the Allied Intelligence Bureau which decided to replace personnel in previously over-run or abandoned positions, many still occupied by the Japanese. These men were landed at various vantage points, mostly at night, to observe and report by radio, movements of enemy shipping, planes and troops and any other information deemed important.

Most of them were helped by the indigenous people in the area where they operated despite the threat of instant reprisal if they were discovered. Some of our men were accidentally betrayed and taken prisoner which earned them instant execution. Theirs was a lonely death, not in the company of comrades in battle, but alone against a brutal enemy.

The names of many of the Coast Watchers who died are recorded on the only other memorial to them which is located at Madang.

Upcoming Events

A living memorial

The Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway is a living memorial and a principal site of commemoration honouring all those who fought for Australia during World War II.

A principal focus is on the sacrifices made during key Papua New Guinea battles which took place in 1942-43 along the Kokoda Track, at Milne Bay on the south-eastern tip of Papua, and at Buna, Gona, and Sanananda on the northern coastline.

The Walkway covers more than 800 metres from Rhodes Station to Concord Hospital in Sydney’s inner-west, and runs along the mangrove-studded shores of Brays Bay on the Parramatta River.

At the centrepiece are magnificent granite walls bearing photographic images of the Kokoda campaign. There are 22 audio-visual stations along the Walkway, each describing a significant place or military engagement. The Walkway has been planted with lush tropical vegetation simulating the conditions of The Kokoda Track.

The Centenary of ANZAC and the GREAT WAR

July to December 1917

European Theatre

Sept.– Nov. Third Battle of Ypres (Belgium)

British forces planned to break through the strongly fortified German defences enclosing the Ypres salient, a protruding bulge in the British front line. There were a number of fierce separate engagements. Only small advancements were possible in the saturated terrain, and the hoped for breakthrough never eventuated. Australian divisions participated in a number of key attacks:

Sept. 20 Menin Road Belgium

Sept. 26 Polygon Wood Belgium

Oct. 4 Broodseinde Belgium

Oct. 9 Poelcappelle Belgium

Oct. 12 Passchendaele Belgium

Three successful pushes – Menin Road, Polygon Wood and Broodseinde – in September and early October steadily drove the Germans back to the top of Passchendaele ridge. Through October and into November, wet weather and sheer exhaustion meant further attacks became hopelessly bogged down. Though the final ridge was eventually gained, continued penetration of German positions proved unachievable. Losses were horrendous on both sides. During the five-month campaign, almost half a million men were lost. The fighting in these weeks cost the Australians another 38,000 casualties.

Middle East Theatre

Among the many battles that took place in the 2nd half of 1917, there is one name that stands out above all others in the desert war involving Australian mounted forces:

Beersheba (Palestine) Oct. 31

The battle of Beersheba took place on 31 October 1917 as part of the wider British offensive collectively known as the third Battle of Gaza. The final phase of this all day battle was the famous mounted charge of the 4th Light Horse Brigade. General Grant gave the order personally to the 12th Light Horse Regiment: “men you’re fighting for water. There’s no water between this side of Beersheba and Esani. Use your bayonets as swords. I wish you the best of luck”. The capture of Beersheba enabled British Empire forces to break the Ottoman line near Gaza on 7 November and advance into Palestine.